In Numbers 20:11 Moses famously strikes the Rock to which the Lord commanded him to speak. After this incident, Moses would not be allowed to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Why? He disobeyed God, and even though Israel were prone to disobedience and complaint, the disobedience of Moses could be used as justification for continued disobedience: “If Moses disobeyed and the Lord answered, why not us?”

Tragic. Moses has led Israel, and on many occasions, suffered because of them. In his moment of frustration, in a moment of anger, he disobeys and will not enter with the people. As I’ve taught on numerous occasions, the Lord had a greater plan for Moses that would come generations later (Matt. 17).

Yet in Numbers 20:12 we read:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן

“And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron…”

Why Aaron? Here is a hard lesson for all of us to learn, one that often makes us very uncomfortable.

In Numbers 20:10, the Torah tells us that Moses and Aaron assembled the people in response to the issue of water. While Moses struck the Rock in disobedience, Aaron also failed. How? He failed to correct Moses. He failed to speak up.

In Numbers 20:6, the Lord called both Moses and Aaron, and in 20:8 He says: “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”

As Moses lifted his staff, Aaron should have corrected him: “No Moses, speak to the Rock.” Isn’t the effect much the same? Didn’t the Rock yield its water? Israel, grumbling and in disbelief, should have witnessed the rock obeying the spoken command of God. If a rock obeys, and brings forth that which is not natural to it, shouldn’t we?

There are times in the life of faith when the natural inclination to stoniness overcomes our hearts due to circumstance, and even disbelief. Rather than life giving water springing up from within, the well is covered over in doubt. What should we do?

Paul writes in Galatians 6:1-2, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Messiah.”

Moses was angry. Aaron should have spoken to the stoniness of Moses’ heart to open the fount of living water in order that he speak the impossible for the Lord to be glorified. Aaron was accountable in this as well, just not in the same manner of Moses.

Israel was panicked and angry. Moses was angry. Aaron, as the high priest and minister of reconciliation, should have spoken to one heart, in order for that heart to speak to many others.

It seems we have heartaches by the dozens these days. Those heartaches can cause stoniness. Paul gives us an example, and a command, to come alongside of, and through the Spirit of gentleness, speak words of truth and healing to break up that which has become hardened by trial, allowing the living waters to flow once again.

As James teaches, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (Jas. 5:19-20).

This is not easy to do correctly. It can be humbling. It can be uncomfortable. It can be upsetting. However, to speak up, in faith, at the right moment, with the right spirit, can change seemingly impossible circumstances, allowing the Lord to be glorified and people to be changed.

Aaron died in the wilderness as well, in this very chapter of Numbers (20:28). We learn so much from someone who stood silent. One important lesson being, as ministers of reconciliation, we cannot stand in silence, but rather, we call out: “be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).

Be well. Shalom.